The United States does not want to see the Israel-Hamas conflict expand into Lebanon, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said on Friday (local time). Jean-Pierre stressed that the U.S. supports Israel’s right “and obligation” to defend itself against Hezbollah. However, she said that the United States has a strong preference to minimize civilian casualties and that it is essential for Israel to adhere to international humanitarian law. She also called for a pause to allow humanitarian aid in and for the release of hostages, as well as an end to Israel’s escalation.
The White House has been facing intense pressure from domestic and international sources to moderate its support for Israel’s response, including by backing calls for a Gaza pause. A senior administration official told CNN that the Obama administration is considering requesting time windows to allow the delivery of aid and the release of hostages. The official said the U.S. has no plans to deploy U.S. forces to the area, though it is discussing its future force posture in the region with allies.
However, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby dismissed those calls for a Gaza pause on Thursday. He emphasized that the Biden administration supports Israel’s right to defend itself. He said the U.S. has provided Israel with “advice that only the best of friends can offer on how to minimize civilian deaths and still achieve its objectives” against Hezbollah. He added that he had been shown additional images and videos from Oct. 7 that were “almost beyond human capacity to process and digest.”
Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah vowed to continue fighting Israel, even if that means a war that lasts longer than the 34-day Lebanon War in 2006. Nasrallah praised the “moral courage” of the Lebanese people who defended themselves against a series of virulent antisemitic messages sent to Democratic Sen. Jacky Rosen, a Jewish ally who represents a swing state in Iowa. The White House has condemned the threats as “dangerous and unproductive.”
Blinken reiterated that the United States remains steadfastly behind Israel. Still, she made clear that the U.S. is urging Hezbollah to remain out of the conflict, as it is not in Lebanon’s interest. She noted that Hezbollah is a powerful, sophisticated, and heavily armed military group with substantial Iranian support. Getting Hezbollah into the war would significantly escalate the conflict and likely lead to a higher death toll among Palestinians, she said.
Blinken cited the importance of “substantially and immediately increasing the sustained flow of humanitarian assistance into Gaza, as well as getting American citizens and other foreign nationals out of Gaza.” He noted that the first several hundred dual nationals, foreigners, and staff members of international organizations have been allowed to leave Gaza this week through the Rafah border crossing with Egypt. He also urged Israel to take “tangible steps” to protect civilians and ensure that the movement of people and goods through the Rafah crossing continues. Israel has reportedly dropped leaflets warning Hezbollah to stay out of the war, but officials said that the warnings are unlikely to have much impact on Hezbollah, which has not yet stepped into the conflict.
